N04004:200
Some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in New-England, and the way in…
Some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in New-England, and the way in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted, humbly offered to the public, in a treatise on that subject. : In five parts; Part I. Showing that the work that has of late been going on in this land, is a glorious work of God. Part II. Showing the obligations that all are under, to acknowledge [sic], rejoice in and promote this work, and the great danger of the contrary. Part III. Showing in many instances, wherein the subjects, or zealous promoters, of this work have been injuriously blamed. Part IV. Showing what things are to be corrected or avoided, in promoting this work, or in our behaviour under it. Part V. showing positively what ought to be done to promote this work. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ at Northampton. ; [Two lines from Isaiah]Some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in New-England, and the way in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted, humbly offered to the publick, in a treatise on that subject. : In five parts; Part I. Shewing that the work that has of late been going on in this land, is a glorious work of God. Part II. Shewing the obligations that all are under, to acknowlege [sic], rejoice in and promote this work, and the great danger of the contrary. Part III. Shewing in many instances, wherein the subjects, or zealous promoters, of this work have been injuriously blamed. Part IV. Shewing what things are to be corrected or avoided, in promoting this work, or in our behaviour under it. Part V. shewing positively what ought to be done to promote this work. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ at Northampton. ; [Two lines from Isaiah]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1742
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To blame a Minister, for thus declaring the Truth to those who are under Awakenings, and not immediately administering Comfort to them, is like blaming a Surgeon, because when he has begun to thrust in his Lance, whereby he has already put his Patient to great Pain, and he shrinks and cries out with Anguish, he is so cruel that he won't stay his Hand, but goes on, to thrust it in further, 'till he comes to the Core of the Wound. Such a compassionate Physician, who as soon as his Patient began to flinch, should withdraw his Hand, and go about immediately to apply a Plaster, to skin over the Wound, and leave the Core untouched, would be one that would heal the Hurt slightly, crying Peace, Peace, when there is no Peace.
To blame a Minister, for thus declaring the Truth to those who are under Awakenings, and not immediately administring Comfort to them, is like blaming a Surgeon, because when he has begun to thrust in his Lance, whereby he has already put his Patient to great Pain, and he shrinks and cries out with Anguish, he is so cruel that he won't stay his Hand, but goes on, to thrust it in further, 'till he comes to the Core of the Wound. Such a compassionate Physician, who as soon as his Patient began to slinch, should withdraw his Hand, and go about immediately to apply a Plaister, to skin over the Wound, and leave the Core untouch'd, would be one that would heal the Hurt slightly, crying Peace, Peace, when there is no Peace.
Indeed something else besides Terror, is to be preached to them, whose Consciences are awakened: The Gospel is to be preached to them: They are to be told that there is a SAVIOUR provided, that is excellent and glorious, who has shed his precious Blood for Sinners, and is every Way sufficient to save 'em, that stands ready to receive 'em, if they will heartily embrace him; for this is also the Truth, as well as that they now are in an infinitely dreadful Condition: This is the Word of GOD. Sinners at the same Time that they are ⟨p. 159⟩told how miserable their Case is, should be earnestly invited to come and accept of a SAVIOUR, and yield their Hearts unto him, with all the winning, encouraging Arguments, for 'em so to do, that the Gospel affords; but this is to induce 'em to escape from the Misery of the Condition that they are now in: but not to make 'em think their present Condition less miserable than it is, or at all to abate their Uneasiness and Distress, while they are in it; that would be the Way to quiet them, and fasten them in it, and not to excite 'em to fly from it. Comfort, in one Sense, is to be held forth, to Sinners under Awakenings of Conscience, i. e. Comfort is to be offered to 'em in CHRIST, on Condition of their flying from their present miserable State, to Him: but Comfort is not to be administered to 'em, in their present State, as any Thing that they have now any Title to, or while out of CHRIST. No Comfort is to be administered to 'em, from any Thing in them, any of their Qualifications, Prayers or other Performances, past, present or future; but Ministers should, in such Cases, strive to their utmost to take all such Comforts from 'em, tho' it greatly increases their Terror. A Person that sees himself ready to sink into Hell, is ready to strive, some Way or other, to lay GOD under some Obligation to him; but he is to be beat off from every Thing of that Nature, tho' it greatly increases his Terror, to see himself wholly destitute, on every Side, of any Refuge, or any Thing of his own to lay hold of; as a Man that sees himself in Danger of drowning, is in Terror, and endeavours to catch hold on every